TDF Celebrated 'Bathukamma' in New Jersey

New Jersey: Telangana Development Forum NJ/NY Chapters celebrated 2011 Bathukamma festival on October 1st, 2011 in Thompson Park, Monroe Township, New Jersey. Because of rain, it was postponed from the previous week, and the weather forecast again was rainy and cloudy. Three hundred brave Telangana families decided not to give in to rain and ventured boldly to celebrate "Bathukamma".

But finally the gathering felt that Bathukamma blessed them with no rain around the park. Many attendees said it was pouring when they left home all along the way until they reached the park. Women as usual were dressed in colorful Saris and children were eager to participate in sports competitions. Unfortunately the ground was very wet due to heavy rains and they were disappointed. Women found a dry place to put the Bathukammas. The Bathukamma songs were played through juke box and Whole Park reverberated.

It was a pot-luck picnic and many volunteers brought home made delicious items. Soon after lunch women gathered around Bathukammas and started singing. They were chorusing the jukebox songs and dancing and clapping their hands, and moving in circles. Many visiting mothers from India took an active role in singing. Men were reminiscing their childhood and telling the Bathukamma stories to each other. Everyone was expressing their strong support to 'Sakala Janula Samme' and wanted it to continue until Telangana State is formed.

Dr AndheSri, the prajakavi was the Chief Guest and he spoke on the importance of Bathukamma and thanked every Telangana mother and sister to continue the tradition. Later he sang a ballad 'Gala gala paresayeramma' and brought tears to many. Mr. Upendra Chivukula, NJ Assemblyman congratulated TDF and requested the citizens to register and vote in upcoming elections. Dr. AndheSri presented the first prize to Smitha & Sujatha Voddi and second prize to Madhavi for best Bathukammas.

Playing Bathukamma was resumed for few more minutes, and then Bathukammas were taken to the lake shore in a procession while singing and immersed them in the lake. The women ceremoniously circled again and sang and prayed for the well being of their families and everyone in society.

Madhu K. Reddy, Sudhakar Perkari, Pravin Rao Maknoor, Suresh Rao, Parmesh Beemreddy, Ravi Pusukur, Balvanth Kommidi, Narayana Pirlamarla, Suresh Jilla, Narotham Reddy, Dharma Reddy, Raj Seelam, Ravi Peddi, Ramesh Maganti ,Srikanth Gudipati,Hari Eppanapally are few of the local prominent people have participated in the event and expressed their heartfelt feelings about such gatherings and celebrations. TDF pledged to continue this kind of activity and asked everyone to bring their friends in the future.

The success of this program credit goes to the volunteers Karunakar Neravetla, Jamuna & Ravi Puskuru, Ajaya Katta, Vijay Kundur, Shravanth Poreddy, Praveen & Varudini Mitta, Sandhya Seelam, Kishore Aella, Venu Vallabu, Praveen Thakkapally, Ashok Narayana, Laxma Reddy, Suresh Jilla, Subhashini Tangada, Varija Maknoor, Nandhini Dargula, Sreelatha Ramadugu, Pallavi Gangasani, Laxman Anugu, Dr Pratap Reddy, Sudhakar Perkari, Jagadish Gabbeta, Deepa Kodur, Parmesh Beemreddy, Srilatha Ramadugu, Smitha Voddi, Vijay Kundur,Pallavi Gangasani, Rajam Chiluka, Vijaysimha Reddy Tupally, Mohan and Sreelatha Danda, Ravi Parvathala.

Murali Chinthalpani, the TDF President thanked all the volunteers, specially the women volunteers who worked very hard to bring the delicious dishes. He also thanked the donors Sri Ravi Thota, Vinod Kodur, and Dhrma Reddy; Mirchi & Dakshin for food and Vana-usa for the soft drinks.

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